ODNR Fishing Report for 08/18/2009:

Article Posted: August 18, 2009

** The daily bag limit for Lake Erie walleye is 6 fish per angler. The minimum size limit for walleye is 15”. **

** The daily bag limit for Lake Erie yellow perch is 25 fish per angler in waters west of the Huron pier. The limit will remain at 30 fish per angler in Ohio waters from Huron eastward. Any boats landing west of Huron, Ohio will be subject to the 25 fish daily bag limit, while boats landing at Huron or points east will be subject to a 30 fish daily bag limit. Shore-based anglers west of the Huron pier will be subject to a 25 fish daily bag limit, while those on the pier and eastward will remain at 30 fish daily. **

** From May 16 through August 31 the steelhead daily bag limit is 5 fish. Beginning September 1 the daily bag limit will return to 2 fish. The minimum size limit for steelhead is 12 inches. **

Good walleye fishing was reported the week of 8/10 with the best reports coming from the gravel pit W of West Sister Island, nearshore off of Crane Creek and Metzger’s Marsh, around Niagara Reef, and W of West Reef and Rattlesnake Island. Drifters are using bottom bouncers with worm harnesses or are casting mayfly rigs. Trollers were catching fish on worm harnesses fished with inline weights or bottom bouncers, and also on spoons fished with dipsy divers or jet divers.

Yellow perch fishing is improving. The best areas have been the gravel pit W of West Sister Island, 1.5 miles E of the Toledo water intake, 20’ of water off of Ward’s canal, around Kelleys Island, and off of Cedar Point. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Central Basin

Walleye fishing has been good in open water around the weather buoy at the N end of the sandbar between Vermilion and Lorain, and also nearshore from Huron to Vermilion. Excellent fishing continues with many boat limits 7-12 miles north-northeast of Geneva in 70-74 feet and 7-10 miles north of Ashtabula in 70-74 feet. Trollers are using watermelon, green, yellow jacket, perch, orange, pink, or blackjack worm harnesses and spoons, off of dipsy divers. Anglers are fishing down 45-60 feet.

Yellow perch fishing has been good in 44-52 feet northwest of Edgewater State Park, 50-65 feet northeast of Wildwood State Park, 35-55 feet northwest and northeast of Fairport, 55-60 feet northeast of Ashtabula and 55-60 feet north of Conneaut. Perch spreaders or perch and crappie rigs with shiners fished as far up as 6 feet off the bottom have been producing the most fish.

Steelhead fishing has been very good this past week with the best location 14-18 miles northwest off Fairport in 75-78 feet (the Cleveland Hole) while trolling using black and purple or silver and blue spoons. Anglers are fishing down 45-60 feet just above or in the thermocline.

White Bass fishing has been good from the shore at the Eastlake CEI wall, Grand River and Fairport Harbor piers. Anglers are using agitators with blue and silver spoons and jigs tipped with twister tails. Fish range from 7-11 inches. Boat anglers watch for the gulls feeding on the surface - these are usually good spots to try for white bass which are also feeding on the same schools of emerald shiners.

Based on the nearshore marine forecast the water temperature is 74 off of Toledo and 73 off of Cleveland.

Anglers are encouraged to always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device while boating.